O'Donnell PAC lives on mailing lists

The political action committee of former Senate candidate and tea party favorite Christine O’Donnell is brewing big bucks by renting supporters’ personal information to political fundraising and advertising companies.

ChristinePAC raised about $63,000 this summer — the vast majority of its recent income — by renting its mailing lists, new federal campaign finance filings show.

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Indiana-based firm Conservative Connector, which advertises that it provides “access to conservative online activists and donors,” paid $56,000 for access to O’Donnell’s lists.

Capitol Hill Lists of Georgia, a self-described “leader in the direct-marketing industry” that specializes in conservative political mailers, paid ChristinePAC more than $7,000.

While it’s not uncommon for candidates or political committees to sell or rent their supporters’ information, rarely do they rely on it as a primary source of income.

The PAC’s more than $35,000 in third quarter expenditures generally went toward varied administrative and office expenses, such as legal fees and consulting, as well as travel and Web services.

It made no contributions to political candidates or committees and ended September with about $43,000 cash on hand.

Asked if supporters have expressed concern about the sale of their information, ChristinePAC spokesman Matt Moran replied, “Heck no.”

During an election season, prospective donors “need to support candidates, so we have achieved a win-win of receiving donations and revenue while Christine is making a living and taking care of her mother who is receiving cancer treatment for ovarian cancer,” Moran said.

ChristinePACdescribes its mission as promoting “values that strengthen our country as a whole and to empowering Americans to become more involved in the political process.” Exposing voter fraud, supporting the military and axing the death tax are among its priorities.